As motorcyclists, I think it’s fair to say, we have a taste for adventure that’s unmatched by other genres of transport. This is particularly true when it comes to riding in new and different places.
Quite the view!
For a lot of us the issue is all about time. Or, indeed, the lack of it when it comes to planning. For the last number of years we’ve seen a number of operators take to the road for overseas tours. Here at home, the only show on the road is Celtic Horizon Tours. This year we’re delighted to join with the company with a tour of the Northwest of Ireland from Saturday the 24th of August over three days and two nights.
The forgotten county has kept all the best roads to itself!
As a team we’ll be using local guides. All of us have some sort of advanced rider training, we’re personable and we all know the roads that they we’ll be using since they’ve been ridden by us over the days and weeks leading up the tour.
The idea is a simple one, we package everything that the rider needs. This is includes accommodation with breakfast and dinner included. The hotel even has dedicated motorcycle parking!
The tour starts out in Athlone at the services on the Galway side of the town on the motorway. Very importantly, all of the bikes that show up to be ridden on the tour will be subject to a quick walk around. This is just to ensure that they’re safe and ready to ride. We'll be gathering from 9.30 and riding out at 10am sharp!
The best Gastro Pub on the planet!
From there the plan is for the ride to wind its way on the slow and scenic route as far as Letterkenny in Donegal. Along the way there are a host of photo stops as well as a few terrific little pubs with simple, but great, food. All three nights are spent in the Mount Errigal Hotel in the town.
Day two sees the west of Donegal covered. The landscape in Irelands “forgotten county” is phenomenal. Mountain passes, roads that wind along the Atlantic coast with amazing cliff views and, what I reckon is, the best gastro pub in the known universe. With a full days riding the group will be back in the hotel for an early evening meal.
Roads the are some of the best in the world!
On day three the ride funs across the province of Northern Ireland, through the Sperrins. The landscape here is made for motorcycles! From there it’s on to Newry. The run finishes on the services on the M1 at Jonesborough.
The last words go to John Murphy who rode out with us on the 2020 tour;
“Thanks to all the guys in Celtic Horizon Tours and to all the guides on what was an absolutely epic motorbike trip around stunning Donegal, everything was perfectly planned from the hotel to the jaw dropping picturesque roads we were brought around, my only complaint was the tour didn’t last for a month or more, can’t wait for the next one! Thanks again guys you done yourselves proud”.
